Band on the Wall launches free We Face Forward iPad app - A guide to West African music & art. Available now for free in the App Store.
Band on the Wall is delighted to announce the launch of the official We Face Forward iPad app - available for free on the App Store now, the We Face Forward app is an immersive multimedia tool designed to entertain and educate iPad users in West African art and music, both at home and in the classroom.
The We Face Forward app is the result of the hugely successful We Face Forward season of West African art and music that took place across multiple music venues, galleries and museums in Manchester from June to September 2012. To maintain the legacy of such a hugely important series of cultural events, the app was developed - partly as an archive project to preserve live recordings from the concerts as well as interviews with artists (all available for free, without advertisements within the app) and partly to serve as a reference tool celebrating the unique links between West African art and music, with biographic information, facinating articles, photographs andmore contained within the app.
The app features a number of live video recordings and interviews taken at Manchester's world famous Band on the Wall, The Royal Northern College of Music, The Bridgewater Hall and more, including:
•Afrocubism
•Angelique Kidjo
•Jaliba Kuyateh
•Kanda Bongo Man
•Seckou Keita
The long-term goals of the app stretch far beyond simply preserving content from the festival - The app has been created specifically so it can be expanded upon and developed further going into the future, and the vision is to create a resource that is seen to be the definitive and essential guide to not just West African art and music but more and art as a whole. The app has been designed from the ground up to be flexible and easily updated with new content, which opens up the possibilities to expand the resource with almost unlimited new media.
Ben Holden, director of digital agency Cahoona, who helped create the app, said:
"Cahoona were thrilled to work on the We Face Forward iPad app. The festival has been a wonderful success and the rich diversity of West African culture and it's musical heritage is perfectly captured through the rich media contained within."
For iOS developer Sam Easterby-Smith, who oversaw the production of the app, it was a great opportunity to innovate and take advantage of the latest technologies:
"All the graphics in the app was optimised to take full advantage of the Retina Display featured on the latest iPad. We also did a lot of work on the video streaming - the app not only plays seamlessly on Wifi and 3G connections but for the big screen experience supports AirPlay and the AppleTV. Meanwhile, under the hood the app uses a new kind of database which (among other things) gives Band on the Wall the ability to live-update the content on everyone's iPads."
Band on the Wall's CEO Gavin Sharp sees the app as a great opportunity to expand people's knowledge of international art and music:
"Its always been part of Band on the Wall's charitable mission to expand understanding and knowledge of cultures from across the world thorough the medium of music. This app helps to contextualise the cultures from which this great music has come from and we are immensely proud to have partnered with Manchester Museums and Galleries to produce such an amazing digital resource."
The We Face Forward iPad app has been developed thanks to the support of Band on the Wall, The Space, Rough Guides, Arts Council England, Manchester Art Gallery, The Manchester Museum, Soundthread, Cahoona & Spotlight Kid.
Band on the Wall Christmas & Private Party Bookings Now Being Taken!
Fancy having the party of a lifetime at Manchester's world famous, city-centre venue? Hire Band on the Wall for your private party with full live band, delicious food and welcome drinks included for £25 or less per person! (£25 based on attendance of 150). Larger parties receive and even further discount - simply contact us for details.
Booking your Bespoke Event is easy...
We can sort everything out for you from helping you select a fantastic band that's perfect for your event, to providing a range of delicious food and drink options - all hosted and managed by our expert and friendly team to ensure your event runs exactly how you want it to. We can even provide all those special extras such as cakes and decorations should you require them. Please find our range of packages below, and if you would like any more information simply contact our Development Manager, Najia Bagi, who will help you create the perfect event at najiabagi@bandonthewall.org or call 0161 830 3883.
We do advise you book early as available dates are filling up quickly.
Music To Your Ears!
If there's one place in the world that knows about great live music, it's us, and choosing your live band couldn't be easier. We welcome you to select from a list created by us who we think will be perfect for your night - or simply talk to us and we'll suggest who we think suits your event best. Subject to availability, you just choose one of the following great bands and its all included in the price!
- LaTinto Bros (Latin, Salsa) - Doctor Truth (Blues) - Rory Duffy Trio (Brazilian, Pop, Jazz, Latin) - The Compass Roses (R&B, Jazz. Funk, Soul) - Extra Love (Reggae) - Cover Bands also avalable!
Food, Drink & Music Packages
Please find our range of packages listed below. All packages include live music and are based on an average of 150 attendees. We can cater for up to 320 guests, and the larger your party the bigger the discount - So if your party is larger (or smaller) just let us know and we'll tailor the package and costs accordingly to suit your event. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact Najia Bagi at najiabagi@bandonthewall.org / 0161 830 3883
1. Private Party Package
- Live Band - Champagne Reception - Buffet
£25 per person (based on 150 people but less if you bring more!)
2. Christmas Party Package
- Live Band - Mulled Wine Reception - Christmas Buffet
£32 per person (based on 150 people but less if you bring more!)
Enquiries
All packages can be bespoke and include cakes, decorations and extras you choose. So just contact Najia Bagi, Band on the Wall's Development Manager, to find out how we can give you the party of a lifetime at najiabagi@bandonthewall.org / 0161 830 3883
Considered one of the world's greatest Flamenco artists, Paco Pena brings his astonishing flamenco company to The Lowry Salford Quays and Leeds Town Hall for this internationally-acclaimed production that seamlessly blends Spanish and African music and dance together into a stunning celebration of shared cultures.
… breathtakingly beautiful. The Telegraph
Seeing the same routine performed simultaneously by two different cultures is utterly fascinating… superbScotsman Edinburgh
…so hot that the dancers don’t so much wear holes in their shoes as scorch through them… Evening News, Edinburgh
Devised by Paco Pena and directed by the Southbank Centre's Artist Director, Jude Kelly, Quimeras triumphantly brings to life the journey of a group of people in pursuit of a better life, searching beyond the frontier for a wonderful, promising world. The result is a spectacular performance that mixes thrilling dance, song and music with intimate story telling. An unforgettable night out, early booking is strongly recommended. A Band on the Wall Fundraiser Event.
1pm, Band on the Wall Band on the Wall Beer & Blues Festival
We offer up the perfect afternoon libation of live blues by the incredible Alligators who have been pulling in the crowds for the past 5 years with their brilliant covers of blues classics by BB King, Robert Cray, Canned Heat, Fabulous Thunderbirds and more. All complimented by up to 20 real ales from across the country for this Autumn's Band on the Wall Beer n' Blues Festival.
This event will begin at 1.30pm but you can enjoy a vast selection of divine ales from our Picturehouse Cafe Bar earlier.
20% OFF FOR CAMRA CARD HOLDERS. SIMPLY CLICK ON MEMBERS TICKET WHEN MAKING PURCHASE OR BUY ON DOOR. YOU MUST SHOW CARD ON NIGHT TO GAIN ENTRY.
WIN A PAIR OF FREE TICKETS!!!
Simply email your names and day time telephone number to malcolm.duffin@bandonthewall.org before midday Wednesday September 5th and first name out of the hat wins a pair of tickets to this very special Sunday afternoon event. PLEASE MARK EMAIL SUBJECT "ALLIGATORS"
Africa Express, the collective of African and Western musicians, is filling a train with dozens of very special guest artists and taking it on a musical adventure across mainland Britain this September, produced in association with the Barbican as part of London 2012 Festival and presented in Manchester by Band on the Wall as part of the We Face Forward season of West African art and music.
Hailed as the most revolutionary force in popular music for two decades, Africa Express brings together musicians from different cultures, genres and generations to break boundaries and offer a new perspective on Africa and its music.
As well as scheduled concerts in Manchester, Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Cardiff, Bristol and London, there will be pop-up performances at railway stations, schools, factories, offices, shopping centres and homes. The train itself will include a customized music carriage, with artists creating new material along the route.
Join us at the The Ritz for what is set to be a true one-off live music experience feauturing a huge lineup of internationally lauded musicians and very, very special guests from all cultures and backgrounds, performing brand new material - each Africa Express show is completely unique!
"A fantastically varied cast of stars… a joyfully unpredictable compelling journey." NME
